a lawfull Victory which as he said was given him of God This King as commonly Conquerours doe abolishing forthwith all the Customes of the English Nation and most of their Laws brought in immediately his own Country Fashions and commanded that all Causes should be pleaded in French And excluding all the English that had boarn Armes against him out of their Patrimonies he disposed of all their demeanes and Fields and the rest of their Goods among his Souldiers for a Reward of their Victory reserving to himself the direct principallity and homage held to himself and his Heirs as a Tenure from the Crowne so that none but the King should be the right and true Lord of any thing Also he caused a Seal to be made for himself wherein was engraved By this acknowledge William of Normandy to be your Patron but on the other side was engraven By this Seal you must know that the same is King of England Having thus subdued the Laity he turns himself to the Clergy and made an Edict that no English Monk should be capable of any secular dignity disdaining the facilnesse of Canutus who was formerly King who had continued the honours entreating the people whom he had subdued by which Lenity the Inhabitants growing bold after his death easily expelled Forreigners and redeemed their former Liberty Then he appeased the approaching War of the Danes by giving them money that he might enjoy it peaceably at any rate And hence it was that the English were in no fear at all of the Danes who formerly so infested them yet they were not so free from troubles but that here and there arose some tumults among the people that were hardly suppressed and overcome but the windy Faction was easily dispersed The greatest matter was the Rebellion of his Son Robert in Normandy because it was most against Nature This Son at the Instigation of Philip King of France demanded this Dukedome of his Father as his proper Right and without more words enters upon Normandy by force of Armes It is true his Father had promised him this Territory but the Son was weary of delay nor would he longer forbear from the Government he looked for The King hearing of his Sons Enterprize suddenly goes against him with a strong Army they meet in Battel the Son unhorses his Father and wounds him in the arme but when he knew his Fathers Voyce alighting from his horse he raiseth his Father from the ground and kneeling down before him craved pardon for his boldnesse which he obtained presently his Father embracing him in his armes however he seemed thus to have appeased his Fathers wrath yet God never suffering such faults to escape unpunished he had no good luck ever after Having conquered the Rebels partly by Sweetnesse and partly by Sword he endeavours to enlarge his Kingdome bringing Wales under his Command and causing Malcom King of Scots to doe him homage and so adding new Countryes he in some measure rewarded England for the Crown they gave unto him Yet least the frowardnesse of his newly conquered Subjects should grow insolent he laid upon them Taxes and Tributes that differed them little from slaves seeking by all means to weed out and keep under hatches the Nobility and with continuall Battels to wast and wear out the Commonalty Only the men of Kent held their old Customes For the King upon a certaine time journeying toward Dover was handsomly circumvented by the Inhabitants of Kent carrying Boughes cut down from Trees nor would they suffer him to depart untill he had granted them the enjoyment of their ancient Customes also he was indulgent to the Londoners to let them enjoy the priviledges they had in the Time of Edward the Confessor but he forbad the Nobility â—rom hunting of Deer reserving those sports for himself only About the end of his Life he placed his two Sons Robert and Henry almost in equall power over Normandy There happened on a day a quarrel between Henry and Lewis the Dolphin of France playing at Tables which was the cause of great Contention betwixt the French and the Normans the Dolphin drawing Robert on his side enters Normandy with an Army William forthwith having his Navy ready sails into Normandy and with no difficulty reducing his Son Robert to obedience he marched to Roan that he might find the French men work When he was weary with toyiing being very fat he made a halt a while The French derided him for his fat belly speaking scoffingly that he was with Child and ready to be delivered when William heard thereof he answered If please God I ever recover of this Child-birth I will burn a thousand lights to God in token of my thankfulnesse nor was it long before he entered the Territories of France and wasted all before him with Fire and Sword Yet shortly after he fell sick and dyed at Roan His followers not only forsook him being dead but spoyled him of what he had and his body unfortunately thrice forsaken was at last let down into his own Monument at Cane in Normandy but not entire William the Conqueror Duke of Normandy after he had in Battaiâ—e slaine Harald toke vppon him the Crowne of England He raigned 19 yeares 11 months 〈◊〉 at the age of 74 yeares And lieth buried at Caen in Normandy William the Conquerour resigns his breath Vnto a greater Conquerour grim Death I doe not say when he for England fought That any other then his right he sought But to the English he no Bowells had Whence his own Bowells served him as bad With what contempt these troublers of the World When breath forsakes into the earth are hurl'd A man may see in him who scarce could have ' Midst all his Realms friends a sorry grave As if the very Earth scorn'd to entombe The Son of so much slaughter in her Womb. WILLIAM the Second King of England WIlliam the Conquerour being Deceased the Crown of England by right of succession fell to Robert his Eldest Son but he being in Germany Lanfrank then Arch Bishop of Canterbury who by reason of his great Learning and singular vertue was in high and reverend esteeme with the people so prevailed with the dying Conquerour William the first that instead of Robert the true Heir by Primogeniture William surnamed Rufus because of his Ruddy or Red Complexion though the younger Brother was Crowned King of England Sept 9. 1087. The Beginning of his Reigne was very troublesome and unquiet For his Brother Robert took great offence at his attempt to take advantage of his absence honestly employed in his fathers service to intercept his Crown and dignity which in his Conscience belonged justly and only to him But not long after enraged Robert entered with a very puissant Army of valiant Normans and many French whom Philip their King had waged for his ayde the Confines of England resolving with his Presence to regaine what he had lost by his Absence abhorring that his Right should be
and lieth buried at Fonteverard in Normandy Richard the First no Lion ever fought But was call'd Lion's heart cause he was stout From Prison he his Mother did release And setled his Dominions in peace Then levying men and money did prepare All that was needfull to the holy Warre He forc'd King Tuncred buy his peace with Gold And twice won Cyprus for Jerusalem sold. The Turks and Saracens he overthrowes Whilst prostrate Palestine to his Prowess bowes Philip and Leopald their envy bend Against that valour even the Foes commend JOHN King of England NExt Iohn by blowes and bribes usurps his Brothers Crown and Treasury to maintain his unjust Title which was the cause the whole Course of this Kings government was accompanyed with continuall troubles and his two persecutors were Pope Innocent the Third and Philip the Second King of France But the first Tempest was depending from his Cousen Arthur whose Kingdome he had not only taken from him but also had drawne the Dukedome of Normandy to himself leaving to Arthur only the Dukedome of Anjou But his Mother Constance finding her self too weak for the English flyes to the French King and craves aid of him who promised not only to restore all Normandy but all England to Arthur and forthwith received the young man into his Protection Wherefore Phllip listing an Army first made good the Dutchy of Anjou to Arthur and then invaded Normandy But Iohn sailing into Normandy upbraids Philip for perfidiousness because he had very foully broken the peace he had made with his Brother Richard yet for all this they goe not to Armes For while they discourse and each defends his Right they agree on fifty dayes cessation of Armes Baldwin Earle of Flaunders being utterly against it who therefore forsaking Philip makes his peace with the English and takes Counsell by what means when the truce was ended they should wage war with Philip but when Iohn was free from care of war he strikes hands with the French King upon unjust tearms Baldwin hating his sluggishness once more joyned with the French and restored the War of Ierusalem The English are glad and returne home but are very ill received by the Nobility who hated those base Conditions they had made with the French But Iohn now free from War turns all his study to Pole his Subjects and to follow his pleasure Also he deprived the Arch-Bishop of York his brother of all his Fortunes for nothing but because he dehorted him from such injury Then going into Normandy he divorced his Wife Avis and marryed Isabell daughter and heir to the Earl of Engelestne she was Crowned at Canterbury Bâ—t the dayly oppression of King Iohn prevailed so farre also his base Luxury not without murther and Man-slaughter for he destroyed Matilda a beautifull Maid making her to drink Poyson because she would not yield to his entreaty to be corrupted by him And William Bruce with his Wife for speaking somewhat too freely he killed with Famine taking all their estate from them He demanded Subsidies but his Nobles altogether denyed him nor would they follow him in his Wars untill those heavy Imposts laid upon them were taken away Yet he wenâ— afterward into Normandy and thence to Paris where he and his Wife to outward appearance were friendly received by King Philip. But Hugh Earle of Marsh to whom Isabella the Kings Wife was first betrothed being angry with the King for taking his Wife from him joynes with Arthur and begin a new War Philip takes part with them so joyntly those of Tours first then they of Anjou invade they take the Towns of Mirabellum King Iohn reproves Philip for his falseness and begins â—eriously to think upon revenge and coming upon the Forces of the enemy suddenly and unlooked for destroyed them with a great slaughter taking those prisoners that could not escape among whom was Arthur who shortly after dyed of hunger in prison but some say that endeavouring his escape he was drowned in the River but as it is Vulgarly thought he dyed of meer sorâ—ow His Sister Eleanor followed him shortly after the same sad way And thus ended Arthurs Life Title and those Wars Next Year the French King takes all Normandy by Force And now began the Kings other enemy Pope Innocent the Third to vex him more then Philip had done the occasion is this Hubert Arch-Bishop of Canterbury died and the Monks of St. Augustines in that City without the Kings License or knowledge and about midnight elected Reynold a brother of their own to succeed him and took of him an oath forthwith to travell to Rome there to procure his investiture and to receive his Pall from the Pope Tidings hereof coming to the Kings ears he presently made known his inward dislike of their rash and unadvised doings so that upon his motion and to appease his wrath they elect Iohn Gray then Bishop of Norwich Incontinently the King upon his own charges dispatches Letters and Embassadors to the Pope entreating him to ratifie the last choyce But the Pope neglects the Kings Entreaty and confirms him that was first Elected at which the King fretted and stormed much to see himself so slenderly regarded The Monks also to please the King refuse to receive their own first election because it was made in the night At last the Pope would whether the King would or no make choyce of one Stephen Langton one of his Creatures to succeed in the Arch-Bishoprick The King stoutly keeps him off and confiscates all the Lands and Goods of such as partake in the election with Rome and forbids all appeals thither The Pope after a proud letter or two interdicts him and all his Kingdome which he very frankly gives to Philip the French King who coming to invade and possesse himself of the Popes gift lost three hundred of his Ships and returned home as he came Nevertheless Iohn basely on his knees tenders his Crown for the Popes use which his Legate keeps four dayes but the Nobility hating his poor spirit revolt to the French whom Iohn not able to resist flyes and is poysoned by a Monk in Swinstead Abbey who drank to him in these words Wassall my Liege He was buryed at Worcester having Reigned seventeen years and odd months He left behind him four sons viz. Henry who succeeded him Richard who was elected King of the Romans William of Valentia and Guido Disnay And three Daughters viz. one marryed to Frederick the Emperour the second to William Marshall Earl of Worcester and the third to the Earl of Leicester The right Valiant Prince RICHARD surnamed Coeur-de-â—ion King of England and Hierusalem Duke of Normandy and Acuitanè Earle of Poeters and Annou Lo of Ireland c. He died at the age of 43 yeares Ano. 1199. after he had raigned 9 yeares 9 months and 22 dayes and lieth buried at Fonteveraâ—d in Normandy O what a lushie morsell is a Crowne That right or wrong Princes will gusle't downe John to the
the age of 65 yeares after he had raigned 56 yeares and lieth intombed at Westminster 1272. The groaning Kingdome being rid of John Has found his very Image in his Son King Henry the Third nine years of Age Enters a troubled and a doubtfull Stage The Realme he found Rebecca like become With divers Nations strugling in her Womb All which he clear'd at last with promise fair With Oaths Vowes which prov'd nothing but Aiâ— He pill'd his subjects so that at his need Give him they nothing would nor could indeed He marries then with a mean Family And spoyles his Realme to lard their Poverty EDVVARD the First King of England WHen King Henry died Edward his son and heir was in Palestine very intent about the holy war where he underwent a grievous danger having received 3 desperate wounds from his adversary with a poysoned weapon But he was cured by the wonderfull Piety of his Wife who with her mouth in time sucked out the venome from his wounds In his way being made more certain of his fathers death he made great journeyes and travelled in all hast into England where with the generall applause both of his Nobles and Common-people he was crowned King when he was of the age of 35 years At the beginning of his Reigne he used the Nobility well but to abate the insolence of the Clergy he commanded their wealth to be brought into his Exchequer and he afflicted them otherwise and so drew upon himself their envy The Welch rise against him but he luckily intercepts Monfort's daughter espoused to Lluellen their Prince upon surrender of whom that storm blew over and obedience was promised by the Welch to King Edward But within few years three or four at most Lluellen puts an end to his Oath and obedience for his wife Eleoner being dead he breaks forth into new Rebellions also David forgetting the great love of King Edward to him falls off to his brother and so with joynt forces they enter England and does some mischief to Edward both of them wonderfully inflamed by a false prophesie of Merlin whereby the Crowne of Brutus was promised to Lluellen but the battle being set Lluellen was killed by a private Soldier and his Head brought to King Edward his Brother David also was taken and had his Head struck off and with his Brothers it was set upon the Tower of London where it remained a long time after but his four Quarters were sent to four Principall Cities in England to be set up for a terrour to all Traitors hereafter so Edward revenged the Rebellion of the Welch and the death of Alphonsus his first Borne who was slain in the same battle In the eighteenth year of King Edward's Reigne Alexander the King of Scots not having any Issue of his body fell with his horse and unfortunately brake his neck He had three sisters the eldest of which was married to Iohn Balioll Lord of Galloway the second to Robert le Bruse Lord of Valley-Andrew and the third was married into England to Iohn Hastings Lord of Abergavenny amongst these three each of them backed with his best friends sharp bickerings and civill wars arose to the destruction of many worthy persons on all sides Whilst the matter thus was handled King Edward promises the Kingdome of Scotland to Bruse for ever so he would do him homage for it but Bruse refuseth it preferring his Countries Liberty before his own honour Yet Balioll yields to those conditions and so got the Kingdome of Scotland but the ill will of all his Country-men Envy against him increased for refusing Justice upon the death of the Earl of Fife who was slaine for Baylioll exempted Albermeâ—h from punishment that slew him whereupon Baylioll cited before Edward's Tribunall is forced to plead his cause he was angry at this disgrace and denies Homage to Edward and proclaims warre making a Covenant with the French King Hence arose the cause of a most bloudy warre between the two Nations which lasted for three hundred years only some feigned cessations passed between No lesse than four times did this victorious King Edward subdue the false and fraudulent Scots compelling them with extraordinary tokens of subjection and humility to submit themselves to his mercy In the mean time a new warre breaks forth between King Edward and the French King Philip the fair by a controversie between the subjects of either King for Kings that envy one another easily break forth into open Hatred but Edward had other grudges against the French for conniving at the death of his Cousen Henry the Emperors Son Edward therefore when a day was appointed him hath a stipendary to plead his cause before King Philip he refused to appeare whereupon a great Army being raised Philip enters upon the Territories of King Edward in France by force of Armes the King of England by the assistance of neighbour Princes the Earl of Flanders the Duke of Brabant with Adolphus of Nassaw the Roman Emperour presently marches against the King of France but finding the French divided in two parts and defrauded with the Emperours delayes when he had held his winters quarters at Gaunt not without the murmuring of the Citizens and great want of his souldiers At the beginning of the spring truce being made with the French for three years the King tooke Margaret the Dukes sister to wife for Eleoner died in the former Expedition against the Scots And the daughter of Philip being betrothed to King Edwards sonne he retreated for England About the same time Doctor Langton then Bishop of Chester complained grievously to the King upon Edward the young Prince who by the lewd advice of Pierce Gaveston his loose and gracelesse Companion brake forcibly into his Park and made havock of his Game for which the Prince was committed to Prison and Gaveston banished for ever Lastly making an incursion into Scotland he is taken with a Disentery and dies of it and lies buried at Westminster He was very tall of Countenance somwhat sorrowfull of Chastitie like his Father but in fortitude farre before him Religious he was and wise The noble and Victorious Prince EDWARD the first surnamed Long-shanks King of England Duke of Aquitaine Earle of Poictices and Anjou Lo of Ireland c He Conquered Scotland and brought from thence the Marble Chaire He subdued and overcame llewelyn Prince of Wales and made his sonne Edward Prince Hereof he died at the age of 68 yeares 1307. after he had raigned 34 yeares 8 monthes buried at Westminster King Edward Saraceus Head Sholder sunders Where Christ wrought miracles this Prince did wonders His wife with such so pious love abounds She sucks the venome from his poysoned wounds 'T were Treason to their merits to conceal So great a Valour and so sweet a zeal The haughty Welch he soon did over-run And left them Vassalls to his Princely Son And by his sword so weighed down Fortunes scales That Englands heir succeeds stil Prince of
the Duke of Northumberland the Earls of Northampton and Warwick are indicted of high Treason she spared Northampton but Northumberland was beheaded abjuring that Religion he professed before in hope of pardon his body was buried by the Duke of Somerset his Capitall Enemy between Anne of Boloyne and Katharine who all had suffered the same death The rest persisted and did not renounce the Faith they had professed Iane afterwards with her husband and his two brethren Ambrose and Henry were all condemned to dye but Iane was reprieved for a while Then the Marriage was contracted between Mary and Philip of Spain whereat Wyat and others offended conspire lead an Army to London and are overthrown and executed The Queen enraged with the boldnesse of the subjects began seriously to consider how to punish the guilty Gilford husband to Iane was first beheaded then Iane her self within the Walls of the Tower with a wonderfull courage piety and Constancy had her head chopt off She was a Princesse for her learning and wisdome worthy of immortall praise It is reported that Morgan who passed Sentence upon her fell mad shortly after and cried Take away Lady Iane from me Then Suffolk was beheaded and the same day Wyat the cause of all these mischiefs for Iane had been pardoned had not he raised that furious tumult and enraged the Queen those that followed him some were punished and some pardoned Also Elizabeth was cast into prison by the means of Gardiner Bishop of Winchester without doubt her Life was at Stake had she not wisely answered to questions concerning her Faith They did severely at that time punish all those that were averse to the Romish Religion among whom was Cranmer Arch-Bishop of Canterbury Ridley Bishop of London and Hugh Latimer Bishop of Worcester these refusing to abjure their Faith were burnt to ashes The Queens Marriage with Philip was now solemnized and Cardinall Poole being sent from the Pope all the Errors of the English are purged and they received under the Popes tuition The Fame was at this time that the Queen was with Child and for joy Te Deum was sung at Pauls and she released out of the Tower many Prisoners among whom were the Sons of the Duke of Northumberland who were condemned to lose their heads But all this hope vanisht when the Queens Conception proved to be but a Timpany The Queen restored to the Church all the Goods she possessed belonging to the Church and when she was told that by so great a bounty the Crown Lands would be much wasted she replied piously and prudently She preferred her souls health before all the worlds goods Philip in the interim went to Brussels to his Father Charls and obtained of him the Kingdome of Spaine and his other Dominions before his death then he returned to England then again he went to Callice to wage war with the French and staid upon that businesse above 18. months the English murmuring and the Queen lamentâ—ng his absence Thomas Stafford at that time was instigated by the French to make warre against the Queen and landing with an Army he wan York Castle but he soon was conquered and taken and beheaded at London and his followers were hanged Then the Queen sent Pembroke to assist her husband and won a great victory over the French but drawing too many Forces out of Callis the Duke of Guise assaulted and won it after it had been in the hands of the English two hundred years Guina followed it and so the English were cleane thrust out of all France The Queen was wonderfull grieved for the losse of Callis which together with her Dropsie put an end to her life in the year of our Lord 1558. the fifth year of her Reigne and the fourty third of her Life ELISABET D. G. ANG FRAN. ET HIB REGINA FIDEI CHRISTIANAE PROPVGNA TRIX ACERRIMA What means this Popish Fogg the Church to smother Where is the Queen should be a nursing Mother Edward preceeded thee in the same form That a bright Sun foreruns a blustering storme For Age and Sex all at the stake we see O burning zeal and frozen Charity If to deny the Tyranny you please Behold a Cloud of faithfull Witnesses No it were better to bethink with speed What Sackcloth such a world of ashes need But Madam were not these your own intents How have you suffer'd in your Instruments ELIZABETH Queene of England ELIZABETH Daughter to Henry the Eighth by Anne Boloyne succeeded her Sister Mary being raised from the Prison to the Throne By her Coronation the Papal authority fell again the second time all the Ceremonies Mary had brought in she abollished and reformed all according to rule of her Brother Edward Being she was of a flourishing age and Queen of a flourishing Kingdome it could not be but she must be sought to of many lovers Maximilian the Emperour the Kings of Spaine and Sweeden the Arch-Duke of Austria and the Duke of Angiers sent to woe her but all in vaine First because the Queen would not marry for at her inauguration the Condition was That she should marry no Stranger whereby there was hopes left to the Natives for so great a match The French and Scotch they hoped to prevaile much by reason she was a woman and of tender years whereupon they invade and spoile the English Frontiers The French King pretending Title to the Crown of England in right of his Wife Mary Stewart allyed to Henry the seventh but at last peace is confirmed betwixt Elizabeth the Scotch and French and all the Romane Catholicks are routed out of Scotland Mary when Francis was dead return'd for Scotland and made a firme agreement with Elizabeth but envy and ambition soon violated it and their sister-like concord to the ruine of Mary at last Mary takes to her husband Henry Darley and after Bothwell but discontents and warres arising she flees to Elizabeth in England who received her in her Arms She was at first liberally entertained but after moving dissention in England being a most bitter enemy to those of the Reformed Religion she was kept more narrowly For eighteen years she was kept in prison at last she began to riot in hope of the Kingdome and to lay snares for the Queens Life for which cause at the request of the severall Orders of England she was beheaded Also the Duke of Suffolk who privily sought to marry her suffered the same punishment Elizabeth in the mean time assisted those of the Reformed Religion in France Now fell out a warre between Philip the Second and the low Countreys in which Elizabeth assisted the united Provinces The Queen for this assistance was hated by the Spaniards who had before privately laid snares for her life but now he breaks forth into open warre for he raised a mighty Fleet from Spaine and other places it was the greatest Navy for Provision and Men that ever the Ocean bare and carried the presumptuous Title of Invincible It consisted of
Henry the 2d surnamed Shortmantle King of England Duke of Normandy and Aquitaine Earle of Poicteres and Anjou Lord of Ireland He raigned 34 yeares 9 months died the 6 th of Iuly 1189 at the age of 61 yeares and lieth buried at Fonteverard in Normandy He that shall read thy Reign great Henry must Conclude thee truly valiant wise and just Who from the Treasury of thine own braine Didst Forreign and Domestick Wars maintain Thou never didst unusuall Tax impose Vpon thy subjects to subdue thy foes Yet did thy Son in ready Coyne receive Nine hundred thousand pounds which thou didst leav Hadst thou not Becket nor thy Syren seen Thy Love had ne're turn'd Lust nor Anger spleen Thy Son◠with woe had ne're opprest thy life No Rosamond is like a Royall Wife RICHARD the First King of England RIchard the Eldest Son living of Henry the Second being in Normandy when his Father dyed succeeded in his Throne and because those countries wanted settlement and required a longer time of his presence above all other things he was most carefull for the enlargement of Queen Eleanor his Mother who by her deceased Husband was committed to straight imprisonment because she loathed and would not indure his lascivious course of living with his wanton Paramour Rosamond but sharply reproved him for the same And because she was every way vertuous discreet and wise he committed the whole Government of this Realm in his absence to her care and management and because her own experience had informed her what anguish and sorrow poor helpless Captives did endure she set at liberty all such as were imprisoned for ordinary offences or for small debts which she her self did pay for them And administred the Common-weals affairs with wonderfull moderation integrity and Judgment untill her Son the King came home who was with all solemnity and strange Triumphs anoynted and Crowned King of England The King imitating the mild and gentle disposition of his Mother and commiserating the troubles of such as were afflicted freed out of prison all such as were his debtors or were enthralled for any transgression which concerned himself and whom without injustice done to others he might acquit And through the whole course of his Government he so provided that Justice with mercy might be extended to all Many were the honourable and profitable promotions he heaped upon his brother Iohn whom he created Earl of Lancaster giving to him moreover the Provinces of Nottingham Devonshire and Cornwall and marryed him to the sole and only daughter and Heir of the Earl of Gloucester from whom he received the Lordship of that Country Too great favours conferred on subjects make them aspire too high Just so was it with the King and his Brother Iohn for when the King had poured upon him plentifull showers of his bounty and had advanced him to honour and estate above all others his thoughts mounted above the Moon and made him unnaturally and unthankfully to affect the Crown This King for his invincible valour and haughty courage was esteemed to be most matchless in the Christian World so that he was surnamed Cuer de Lion or Lyons heart His Fathers Coffers enriched him with great store of Gold and Silver and such was his contempt of riches and bounty to such as either deserved well or were men of any noble worth that he bestowed on them great gifts with such alacrity that in short time he unbowelled all his bags little foreseeing that future business might require the expence of more then the great plenty which was left unto him and that when he wanted he should be driven to hard shifts to relieve himself This King was Crown'd at Westminster Sept. 3. 1189. by Baldwin Arch-Bishop of Canterbury namely on that day so memorable for an accidentall slaughter of the Iewes whose insolence he abundantly restrained by giving License to Weed out that odious kind of men which for their blasphemies he hated No sooner was he crowned but at the instigation of the Pope he was engaged with Philip King of France and Leopald Arch Duke of Austria and many other Christian Princes to win Ierusalem which he did These things concluded although the Kings profuse bounty and great expenses had made him bare and needy yet would he not burthen his people with any tax to supply his wants but rather chose to raise mony out of his own Estate which he did by selling Priviledges Demeans Immunities and Cities among which sales he sold Barwick Castle and Rokesborough to the King of Scots for ten thousand pounds and the Lordship and Earldome of Durham to Hugh then Bishop of that See for much money and he did protest that for the performing of so great and honourable a Service he was not unwilling to sell his City of London it self if any were able to purchase it rather then he would be chargeable unto others And thus the King having furnished himself with all provisions necessary for his Journey he for the time of his absence entrusted the Kingdome of England to Hugh Baldulph Bishop of Durham and to William Prunellus and William Longo Scampius Chancellor of the Kingdome dividing to each his part and Proportion he set Robert Earl of Leicester a man of honesty and integrity over Normandy and Aquitane yet to prevent the ambition of Iohn he was minded to send him into Normandy but his Mother interceding for him and becoming surety for his fidelity he was left in England Lastly appoynting Arthur his brother Ieffery his Son to be his Successour in case he should dye in this Expedition He enters upon his Voyage accompanied with many Gallant Lords Knights and Gentlemen whose Resolutions much increased his hopes of good successe In the way contrary Winds drive him upon Cyprus assails and wins it of which Philip of France demands a share Richard denies him and thence arose a great feud between the two Kings which put a great stop to the whole Enterprize Richard got great renowne but being forsaken by the French and the Burgundians forsaking him he makes peace with Saladine upon unjust tearmes and returning home is betrayed to Leopaldus then to the Emperour is imprisoned and with a mighty Ransome redeemed which afterward lost the Emperour his Life and Leopaldus the breaking of his Legs and lastly the losing it Lastly after four years he arrives in England where he met with treasons and troubles on all sides by the French by home-bred thieves and the Iewes which he suppressed and marches against the French and at the siege of a City received a shot in the Arme whereof he dyed and was buryed at Fontenward in Normandy He Reigned nine years nine months and twenty two dayes The right Valiant Prince RICHARD surnamed Coeur-de-lion King of England and Hierusalem Duke of Normandy and Aquitanè Earle of Poeters and Anuou Lo of Ireland c. He died at the age of 43 yeares An o 1199. after he had raigned 9 yeares 9 months and 22 dayes
Throne will o're his Nephews neck Although his own in the attempt he break What follow'd this Vsurper at the Helme A three years Curse on him and his whole Realme At last base fears impossibles foresees And to the Pope bends his unprincely knees In Swinstead Abbey death did him besiege In Sacramentall Masse Wassall my Liege Who pities him a safe estate that scorns And wounds his Temples with a Crowne of Thorns HENRY the Third King of England AFter the Death of King Iohn Henry his eldest Son about the age of nine years was Crowned King but not without some controversie of the Nobles some of the Nobility falling off to him who a little before had made a defection and swore to King Lewis Yet Lewis with an Army of twenty thousand men won many Towns till at last he came to the Castle at Lincolne which a certaine Noblewoman did bravely defend and caused him to stop and an Army of the English coming on in the mean time he was repulsed and conquered many of the English Nobility being taken that stood with him besides the Count of Perch that stood with him till the last preferring an honourable Death before a dishonourable Life Yet he did not despair but sent for more Forces out of France which were all almost destroyed in a Fight at Sea By these misfortunes he was forced to take Conditions of a hundred and five thousand Franks in respect of the charge he had been at he renouncing all right to the Kingdome of England And promising faithfully to prevaile with his father to restore all the Provinces in France belonging to the English The King restored to the rebellious Nobility all the Lands belonging to them And Lewis at Dover set Saile for France having warred unhappily in anothers Land Then a Parliament was summoned and Magna Charta ratified also the Court of Wards was revived and a Tax granted the King to Levy an Army under the Conduct of his Brother Richard for the recovery of his Rights in France The Parliament being ended the said Tax with great celerity is collected without any the lest grutch or contradiction so that the Kings Coffers were replenished with Gold and Silver and all requisites were carefully provided and a gallant Army of couragious men of War were assembled and safely transported With which Richard the Kings Brother did almost wonders subduing where he found resistance and seizing upon Lordships Forts Towns Castles and other defenced places quietly and without blowes no Head being made against him so that within few Months such was his valour and good Fortune he recovered both those Provinces wholly for the King and returned with much honour into England But the Kings absence from those Places gave opportunity to the French King to infest them which he unfriendly laid hold on and suddenly led a new Army into Poicters and easily made himself Lord thereof From thence marcht to Perigott and Alverne and other places in Guyan where he did the like But King Henry sent thither an other Army under the Conduct of his Brother Richard Earl of Cornwall with which he encountered the French and fought many sharp Battels in which for the most part his Fortune continued prosperous and all things seemed to promise him the recovering of whatever in his absence had been lost But in the height of all these broyles a friendly peace was concluded betwixt the two Kings and Richard returned safe into England This Richard Earl of Cornwall the Kings Brother at the suit of the Princes of Germany is elected King of the Romans but not long after being charged with insolence and oppression he was put out of the Office and returns to England a poor King that went out a rich Earle And now began those mischievous broyls and turmoyls in this Realm which until the Kings death daily vexed him more and more and the whole Kingdome also for the King lending too ready and pleasing an ear to lewd and evill Officers about him whom above all Officers he loved and favoured and by whose Counsell and advice both himself and his whole Kingdom was ruled and directed made little account of his best Subjects Love And took from them in divers things such Liberties as by the Lawes and Ordinances of this Kingdome they justly claimed and ought to have enjoyed He also pinched his people with many unnecessary and grievous Taxes which by those lewd and bold Officers were levied with much rigour and sharpness to their great distast The King also took to Wife Eleoner Daughter of Raymond Earle of Province whereby there grew no profit to his affairs but rather suffered great detriment by reason of her thread-bare and beggarly Family and her poor kindred flocking from all Parts as Crowes to the Prey which nevertheless were highly entertained by the King and enâ—icâ—t with money and placed in Offices of greatest honour and profit and the English â—hrust ouâ— aâ— which â—he Nobles stormed and the people every where much murmured But whilâ—â— the King goes about to overthrow his Subjects Rights which they labour to preserve all the Nobiliâ—y being offended at the promotion of strangers they enter into a Conspiracy The King calls a Paâ—liament The Nobility refuse to be present unless he would command the Bishop of Winchester Peter de Rupâ—bus and all his Gang to forsake the Court threatening withall that unless satisfaction were made to them they would depose the King and drive away all strangers his adherents and choose another King In fine both Sides King and Barons fall to Armes and with various success fight severall fierce and cruell Battels at length at the battel near Lewis after the fall of twenty thousand men The two Kings and the Prince with many Knights and Gentlemen of great account were all taken prisoners by the Barons Then a peace is concluded between them a Parliament being called the King confirmed the Government of the twelve Peers which by Hand and Seal he had assigned them in a former Parliament at Oxford called the Mad Parliament and Prince Edward who was Hostage for his Father is set at liberty But the Prince not enduring to see his Father thus a titular King raiseth a fresh Army and about Evesham near Worcester fights the Barons whom by reason of a mortall jarre between Leicester and Gloucester their two Generalls he overthrows Then the Kings call another Parliament and repeals and nulls all former Decrees touching the Authority of the twelve Peers and thus the King got again the staffe into his own hand by the vertue and valour of his princely son The King much incensed with the Londoners for taking part with the Barons could hardly be disswaded from burning the City but at last the Prince made their peace and after thâ—t marches with an Army to the Holy Land where the King dyes having reigned fifty six years HENRY the III. King of England Duke of Aquitane Earle of Poic tiers and Anjou Lord of Ireland He died at
her lodging in the Crowne Curs'd be the luckless minute that did bring A Minious subject to be Englands King EDVVARD the Third King of England EDward the Third being fifteen years of Age was crowned by Reynold Arch-Bishop of Canterbury his deposed father being yet alive In his younger years he was chiefly directed by the advice and counsell of the Queen and his Unkle Edmund of Woodstock Earl of Kent and of Sr Roger Mortimer who to interesse himself more especially in the Queens favour traiterously conspired and procured that murther of the last King in that horrid and butcherly manner before spoken of in the 2. year of this Kings Reigne The Court in those dayes was seldome or never without a Viper for as Gaveston was the fore-runner of the Spencers in ambition lasciviousnesse pride rapine and confusion so the Spencers were the ushers of the Mortimers in intollerable aspiring avarice and destruction the ill laid foundations of all whose greatness was attended by certain and sudden ruine There fell out a war with the Scots in which Edward got the better then a Parliament is called in which the two Spencers and Stapleton Bishop of â—xeter are attainted of high Treason Then the King by the directions of his Mother and Sr Roger Mortimer concluded a dishonourable peace with the Scots and released to them their homage fealty and services to him due for that Kingdom and delivered up to them the grand Chaâ—tar or Instrument called Ragman which under the Hands and Seals of their late King and of the Nobillity of Scotland testified their tenure and subjection to the Kings of this Realme and then he married his Sister Iane unto David the Son and Heir apparent to Robert le Bruce the Usurping Scotish King and created Sr Roger Mortimer Earl of March whereat his Nobles were exceedingly discontented and such was the new Earls mallice and hatred unto the Kings Unkle the Earl of Kent and so powerfull was he with the King by reason of his too much familiarity with his mother Queen Isabell that he never desisted from his wicked and ungodly plottings till he had bereaved him of his head But God permitted not this wretched man to persist long in these mischievous courses for within few months after he was accused by the State for horrid and hainous crimes for which his wicked Treasons and horrible transgressions he was condemned to die in the same manner which he had devised for Sr Hugh Spencer the younger and Queen Isabell being most honourably attended on was sequestred into a strong Castle where she lived more than 30 years after and then died After this the French King requires homage for the Dutchy of Guian which Edward offers by proxy but not otherwise The French cite him again to a personal appearance Edward unwilling to controvert with him sends it him under the great Seal whereat his Nobles are much offended telling him that the Crown of France in right of his Mother belonged to him and that therefore he might justly refuse to doe him any homage at all and deny all fealty whatever Then Edward enters Scotland and crowns Baylioll King thereof But now instead of doiâ—g homage King Edward claims the Crown of France in right of inheritance from his mother Isabell and in spite of their Salique Law entitles himself King of France and quarters the Armes of France with the Armes of England And levying much money and all necessary Provision with a strong Army he fails into France winning many Cities Forts and Castles so that the English Army becomes rich with spoiles The French King solemnly swears pâ—otests that King Edward should not return home without a battle between them But Edward marches on still winning Gizours Vernon St. Germans in lay Mountrell St. Cloud Rely aâ—d the whole country about Roan point de L'arch Naples Nâ—wlench Robboiâ— Fountain Poiâ— and Vimewer at last King Philip of France having certain intelligence that King Edward with his Army was within two Leagues of Paris left the City telling the Parisians that King Edâ—ard dared not to look them in the face but they believed him not but were grievously aâ—raid but he turned off to find out the French Army still Provinces in his way for I have nâ—t room to particularize Now to the English glory the never to be forgotten Bâ—ttâ—ll of Cressâ— where the French with all the Flower and prowesse of their Realme with Swords whet with malice with numbers six to one met the English weakened with a differing Clime their bodies tired with tedious marches wounded with Assaults their swords broken or blunted with continual skirmiges now is the time to try the difference between French and English mettal The French begin the battell with a Forlorn of 15000 Genoways an Army bigger then the English but they have their Errant quickly and returned with such terrour that in their flying they routed and confounded their own main battle yet the French emboldened with multitudes continued the Charge with number upon number but their disorder and confusion was such they came but up as so many sacrifices to the hungry swords of the King and his renowned Son the black but the brave Prince at last the French flie amaine and are so eagerly pursued by the English that their souls are too nimble for their bodies the greatest part lying breathlesse on the ground and in the chase the two Marshalls of England encountered with a multitude of Bevoys Reigner Roan and Anbevile and slew 7000 of them and the next day slew and put to flight a strong Army under the command of the grand Prior of France who not knowing the battel were coming to aid their King that run away the day before leaving behind him slain in the field 11 of his Princes 80 Barons 1200 Knights and more than 30000 common Souldiers the French King himself hardly escaping death by speedy flight Then marched the King and Prince to Callice besieges and takes it notwithstanding the French King endeavoured with 200000 men to raise the siege and could not but went away as he came At the battel of Poictiers the Prince did overthrow the French took their King and infinite Nobles Lords Knights and brought them prisoners into England so that this King had two Kings at one time prisoners in England He reigned 50 years The true pourtraicture of EDWARD III. borne at Windsore of the age of 15 yeres was crowned at Westminster the 2 of Februarie 1326. he tooke the tittle of King of France as dew vnto him both by Ciuill Lawe and order of succession being the Nephew and next heir male of K Charles IIII. his mothers brother in regard wherof he quartred the armes of France with Englands He raigned 50. yeres 5. mo He died at the manor of Shene in Surrey Ano. 1377. buried in Westminster R.E. Sculâ— Edward the Third did at the Throne arrive Whilst his deposed Father was alive But till hit Father willingly resign'd it Though Queen
and Peers all urg'd it he declin'd it Scotland he first subdu'd and made it reele Vnder the force of his victorious steel France askt him Homage but he told her plain Homage was due to him her Soveraign Let her to Cressey and to Poictiers look And Callice which 'fore Philip's face he took And what does more than this his fame evince He was the father to the brave BLACK PRINCE RICHARD the Second King of England RICHARD the Second being the Son and Heir of the black Prince and aged 11 years and somwhat more was crowned King of England in the year of our Lord one thousand three hundred and seventy seven The Kingdome was in an Eclipse the most part of this Kings Reigne his youth with all the frailties incident thereunto with bad Governours both of his kingdome and person were the main ruines of the King and almost the Realme For in the whole course of his Government he neglected his Nobillity and taxed his subjects to enable him to give prodigally to his Sycophants and ill deserving Favourites He was too too resolute in his wayes and refused to be reformed be they never so indirect He also despised the sage advice and good directions of his best counsellers and wholly plotted all his courses by the wicked gracelesse projects of his base and loose companions whom he raised to more honourable estates than befitted the meannesse of their Conditions so that they fell by their own weight and he himself in the end was enforced to endure the extremity of his hard fortune For being first disgraced by his Cousin Henry Bullingbrook Duke of Lancaster and Son and Heir to his Unkle Iohn of Gaunt he was at length by him with the generall consent of a whole Parliament deposed from his Crown committed to prison and afterwards wickedly murthered as in this discourse of his disorderly government more amply shall appear In the first year of King Richards Reigne Charls the French King presuming much on his minority and being aided by the Spaniard landed in the South-east and South-west parts of this kingdome and ransacked and burnt the Towns of Plymouth Rye Dartmouth Portsmouth and some other Towns and Villages coasting upon the Sea and would have done more mischief if by the Kings Unkle Edmund of Langley Earl of Cambridge and by the Earls of Buckingham and Salisbury they had not been fought with and beaten to their Ships At the same time one Ramsey a Scot cunningly surprised the Castle of Barwick but was soon beaten out again all the desperadoes being put to death but himself Again the French infest the Coasts of England even unto Graves-end whereupon Richard with Poll-money levies an Army and revenged himself which caused after mischief And now fell out a Rebellion in England exceeding hazardous to the whole kingdome occasioned by one Iohn Wall a factious Priest who perceiving the meaner and baser sort of people much murmuring repining at the last Tax took an unhappy occasion to move them to sedition telling them we are all by nature the children of Adam born of one and the same condition and equall worth and that the Laws of this kingdome were unjust to set so great difference between men making some Peers and Potentates and others poor and penurious Thus they begun to grow mad and implacable against the Nobillity for the basest dregs of men commonly being uncapable of honour themselves are envious against those that are Hereupon together with the hope of pilfering arose a formidable tumult who for their Leader took one Watt Tyler and for other chief Officers had Iack Straw Iack Shepheard and the seditious Priest Iohn Wall stiling themselves the Kings men and the Servants of the Common-weal of England They marched towards London beating down and rifling of houses and all before them They make all Knights and Gentlemen forsake their houses which they burn or rifle at lest They send also to the King who then lay in the Tower requiring him to come and speak with them Whereupon the King purposing to prevent mischief went to Graves-end but seeing their rage and madnesse he â—â—ared to put himself into their hands and returned back again to the Tower of Londoâ— Next day came this rabble to Southwark and finding the Bridge fortified and the Gates shut they resolved to kill all the people burn the Burrough but to prevent mischieâ— they were let into the City who were fain to entertain them with gifts and good words Then they rifle thâ— Savoy and kill all they light on they robbed all the Inns of Courâ—s and burnt their Law books nor spared they the Churches but sacrilegiously stole all they could lay hand on Watt Tyler commands his Masters head to be carried before him on a Lance mâ—erly because he had given him some small correction when he was his servant The Rebels send â—o the King who goes to Mile-end Green to them freely pardons them all gives them his Banners for their security whereupon many forsake Tyler who with about 20000 marches into Smithfield resolving to ransack and burn the City Then the King courteously perswades them to desist but Tyler commanded the Esquire that bare the sword before the King to give him his Dagger but the Esq told him it was the Kings Sword and should not be givâ—n to a knave whereat Tyler swore e're he would eat or drink the Esq should lose his head The King loth to have the Esq endangered bid him give him the Sword but the Esq would not then stept in William Wallworth Major of the City and clapt his Dagger to Tilers heart commanding him to submit to the King presently about a thousand armed Citizens came and routed them Thus did the storme blow over by Gods goodnesse and the Majors Courage and ever since the City carry the Dagger in their Escutcheon Ball and Iack Staw were executed the rest pardoned The French prepare a great army purposing to invade England King Richard rayseth a mighty power to conquer Scotland which designes had no good events Mischeife and Misery having sate long abroad began now to hatch at home The insulting Peers and rebellious people bandy the regall Power into hazard The Scots enter England under the Command of Sr. William Dowglasse and are encountered by the Noble Lord Henry Hotspur Dowglasse is slain and Hotspur taking Ireland rebels The King goes against him in person and the mean while loseth his Kingdom which with himself and Crown he is forced to surrender to his Cousin Henry Bullingbrook Son to Iohn of Gant Duke of Lancaster Anno 1400. The true pourtraicture of Richard the 2. King of England and France Lord of Ireland and Prince of Chester he raigned 22 yeres was deposed and murther'd at Pomfraict Cast at the age of 33 yeares Buried first at Langley and 14 yeares after by K. Henry th◠〈…〉 and their waâ— honourably â—uâ—erred Richard the Second son to such a Prince The World has never had his equall
since Instead of aiming at anothers Crown As did his Father tamely yeelds his own Has Mars begot Clineas then O strange Sure all the world is moulded up of Change And to the Waves we may compare them well One threatens Heaven another sinks to Hell Such is the State of sublunary things Nothing is fixt no not the Throne of Kings Peace out of doubt would be perpetuall But that our sins our sins for battels call HENRY the Fourth King of England THe Crowne of England Richard the deposed King dying without issue did rightfully descend upon Edmund Mortimer Earl of March the Son and Heir of Edmund Mortimer by Philip his Wife who was the Daughter and Heir of Lionel Duke of Clarence the third Son of Edward the Third Yet his Cousin Henry Bullingbrook Duke of Hartford and Son and Heir of Iohn of Gaunt younger brother unto the said Lionel was elected and crowned King forthwith he created his Eldest Son Henry Prince of Wales Duke of Cornwall and Earl of Chester and summoned his high Court of Parliament in which an order was taken for the safe keeping and honourable attendance and maintaining of Richard the late King but his deposing imprisonment and all former proceedings against him were in the same assembly publickly condemned and reproved by Iohn Bishop of Carlile as hatefull unto God traiterous towards the King and infamous among good men for he averred boldly that if he were not a good King yet more wrong was done to him then ordinarily is done to theeves and murtherers because they are not as he was condemned before they had made their answer to the Crime objected before Judges who were indifferent and pronounced their Judgment upon good proof But so soon as he had ended his speech he was attached by the Earl Marshall and committed to strait prisonment in the Abbey of St. Albans and then among many other things in the same Parliament done the Crown of England was entailed to King Henry and his Heirs for ever No sooner was this Parliament ended but a conspiracy of some of the greatest Lords that outwardly made much shew of joy for the high dignity and advancement of King Henry The Confederates were the Kings Cousin Edward Plantaginet Duke of Aumarle and Heir apparent to Edmund of Langley Duke of York Thomas Holland Duke of Surrey and Iohn Holland his Brother Duke of Exeter both which were halfe Brothers to King Richard Iohn Montague Earl of Salisbury Hugh Spencer Earl of Glocester Sr Thomas Blunt and one Magdalen who was somtime a Chamber-waiter to the deposed King and who both in Stature and in Countenance and Behaviour was not much unlike him The Plot was to take away the Kings Life at solemne jests held at Oxford whither the King was invited and promised there to be present because he supposed that triumph was appointed only for his honour and delight The Treachery was cunningly contrived by the Conspirators who by Indentures under their hands and seals bound themselves each unto other both for secrecy and for the resolute effecting and performing thereof to their utmost power all which they solemnly confirmed by their Oaths The Conspirators all mâ—t at the time and place appointed but the Duke of Aumarle who being at dinner his Father perceiving a Lay-bill hang out of his Bosome took hold of it and drew the whole writing out which being he takes Horse and hasts to the King but the Duke his Son bâ—ing bâ—avely mounted and perceiving his imminent danger posts after and geâ—ting to the King fiâ—st confessed the conspiracy and obtains his pardon The King being thus certified of the Treason turns his journey to the Tower of London where he prepares for his defence He levies a strong power and marcheth against the Traitors But when the Conspirators understood that all the Plot was revealed they attired the said Magdalen in Royall Robâ—s and caused him to affirm himself King Richard and with him and all their Troops which were very warlike and strong they resolve to oppose themselves to the King in the open field But the King speedily marching towards them with 20000 men at the noise of whose approach the Companies under command of the Conspirators cowardly forsook them and left them a prey to the King who took and executed them in severall places some few escaped but over-oppressed with fear and sorrow soon after died The French King his Father in Law resolves to redeem him from imprisonment but ascertained of his death desists Yet for all this King Henry still distrusting the weaknesse of his usurped Title and endeavouring to support it with a more firm foundation entreats Charls the French King to give in marriage his Daughter Isabel somtime King Richards Wife unto his eldest Son Henry Prince of Wales But her Father observing that marriages betwixt Eâ—gland and France were seldome fortunate denied the Kings request whereupon she was honourably sent back into France The Welch and Scots rebell and are overthrown by the Piercies who take many Noble Prisoners which the King demands and is denied In the 3. year of his Reigne the King demands the Scotch Prisoners of the Piercyes but is denied whereupon unkindnesse arose and they extended to joyne with Glendor They get the Earl of Stafford the Arch-Bishop of York a great company of Scots English to joyne with Owen Glendor but before they proceed to Battel they publish an accusation against the King consisting of severall Articles 1. That he usurpt the Crown and murdered the King 2. He unjustly detained the Crown from Edm Mortimer 3. That without any need he oppressed the people with grievous Taxes 4. No justice was to be expected from him who contrary to his coronation oath had in sundry Shires forestalled Elections and procured Burgeships and bestowed them on his own creatures Lastly that he would not release his Cousin Mortimer from Prison For which Treasons they defied him as a Traytor The King with a strong Army fights the Conspirators near Shrewsbury where the King wins the day and the Prince marching against Glendor is forsaken by his Welch and dies of famine in the woods where he hid himself The Duke of Burgoyne attempts to regain Callicâ— in vain Presently another conspiracy is plotted detected and the Traytors executed Lastly the Earl of Northumberland and Lord Bardolph rebelled and are taken and beheaded Thus was King Henry's Reign a majesticall misery and a soveraignty of sorrow so having reigned 13. years and 6. months wanting 5 dayes he died and was royally buried at Canterbury The right noble Prince Henry the 4th King of England and Fraunce Lord of Ireland c. Who died at tâ—e age of 46 yeares in Anno 1413. after he had raigned 13 yeares 6 moneths and 4 dayes and lieth buried at Canterbury Was 't not enough thy Cousin's Crown to take And it a prey to thy ambition make But that his Bloud his Royall Bloud must be A Sacrifice too to thy jealousie
whereto he does incline The God of Warre and not the God of Wine He claims his right sues for Charls his daughter Whilst the proud French retort with scorn laughter In short he did their Towns and Towers so batter The French soon found it was no laughing matter They sue for Peace and the fair Katharine bring Who more then all their weapons wounds the King They are espous'd and so conclude the jarrs Where Mars Venus are auspicious Stars HENRY the Sixth King of England NOt yet was Henry the sixth nine months old when his father died yet was he so fortunate in his beginning that his youth and Government were worthily supported by his three Uncles Humfrey Duke of Gloucester who when the King was crowned was made Protector both of his Person and Realme Iohn Duke of Bedford who was established Regent of France and Thomas Duke of Exeter who graced all his actions with much wisdome and great valour And needfull it was that the new Protector and the Regent should make the utmost tryall of their sufficiencies to the World for whereas in the end of the Kings Fathers days the Nobillity of France incorporated themselves to the English Nation and heartily envied the Dolphin King Charls about this time died and the unconstant French men began to play an Irish Game For on a sudden many of the hypocriticall French renounced their Duty and Obedience to King Henry and utterly neglecting all their Oaths of Allegiance made unto him revolted to Charls their new King endeavoring all that in them lay totally to extirpate the English root them out of France The Protector at home seeing this supplies the Regent with store of Soldiers Silver and Gold The Regent in the mean while levies a strong Army and on the other side Charls the new King was as active to do the like in so much that nothing but war tyranniz'd and tore up the entralls of France And to begin these troubles the French King sent the Lord Grandevile against Pont. Melance which he surprised and slew the most part of those he found there which place is again retaken by the valour of Thomas Mâ—ntacute the Noble Earl of Salisbury together with the Lord Grandevile who by solemne Oath promises faithfull and perpetuall service to King Henry but no sooner is this false French man released but he revolts About this time the Regent renews a League with the Dukes of Burgoyne and Britaine and marries the Lady Anne of Burgoyne whereupon Paris revolts and is reduced Then the Earl of Salisbury wins a great victory before Cravant and is made Vice-regent of France c. The Protector at home for a small matter ransometh Iames the young King of Scots and marries him to the Kings Cousin Germane but he proved a right Scot false and treacherous In the mean while the French gain by fraud what the English regain by force In England the Dutchesse of York is accused of witch-craft by the proud Cardinall her husbands Brother and unjustly suffers for it Now by the intercession of Christian Princes they began to treat of peace between the French and the English peace was not ratified but a cessation was granted for eighteen months In the mean time the Earl of Suffolk by his own authority contracted a marriage between King Henry and Margaret Daughter to the Duke of Angiers boasting much of the Ladies beauty and dowry at last he perswaded the King though he had passed his word to the daughter of the Duke of Britaine This Matrimony contracted gave but small help to the English affairs when for commutation great part of Normandy was yielded to the French and the Duke of Britaine in revenge of his wrong drove all the English out of Aquitane Now the hatred of Sommerset and York began again to bud he by fraud and injustice deposed York from the Authority of Vice-Roy and made himself Vice-Roy in his place York being not a little offended at it for the King did nothing lesse then mind his Kingdome All the authority was between Margaret and the Marquesse of Suffolk also by the contrivance of his enemies the Duke of Gloucester called the good Duke was put out of his place and unknown to the King a Parliament being privily called they question him for his Life he was cast into prison and the next day how it is not known miserably murthered In the mean time all goes to wrack by the negligence of Sommerset all Normandy in a manner lost and revolted and all France made good to Charls except Callice Now the King wants his two good Uncles the Dukes of Bedford and Gloucester to stand by him But Sommerset is called to account found guilty and banished for 5 years but being upon the Seas is beheaded and his body left on the shore The Duke of York who now should help the English in France is fain to goe to still the Irish that were up he quickly pacified them whereby he won the peoples hearts and much augmented his own affairs thus he began to end the difference between the White Rose and the Red and for a beginning of his own right to the Crown for he descended from Lionel Duke of Clarence King Henry being wholly unfit for the Government by whose foolish negligence France and Normandy was lost the men of Kent vote for Iohn Mortimer by Yorks perswasion and with a well appointed Army they march toward London Mortimer being their Commander between Eltham and Greenwich they stay and send up their complaints to the King and Parliament amongst the rest they Petition that York Buckingham and Exeter may be restored to their places and the Kings savour The King sends Forces against the Kentish-men Mortimer overthrows the Kings Forces whereupon the King flies to Killingworth in Warwickshire but Mortimer comes to London and displeasing the City by his arrogance they rise upon him and he is slain his men forsaking him The Duke of York raiseth an Army to bring Sommerset to a triall he is defended by the King but the Duke raiseth a greater Army and now in open field claims the Crown and having assembled to him the Earls of Salsbury and Warwick and others Trollop and Blunt fly to the Kings Army and discover all The Duke and Lords are proclaimed Traitors but the Armies meet near Northampton the King is overthrown and taken but the Queen with the Duke of Sommerset flies The Tower of London is delivered to the Lords A Parliament is called which pronounced York heir apparent to the Crown and Henry to continue the Title of a King during life and York to be Protector of King and Kingdome but the Queen comes with an Army York meets her near Wakefield but in vain expecting his Son is overthrown and slain His Son the new and brave Duke of York fights the Queens Army at Towton and wins the day and Crowne HENRY the VI borne at Windsor being of the age of eight Monthes beganne his reigne
and tranquillity He bountifully recompenced the Duke of Britaine for all his former love and kindnesse to him and also repaid unto him all such sums of mony as at any time he had disbursed for him for his maintenance and relief The like he did to the French King and so redeemed his Hostages the Lord Marquesse Dorset and Sir Iohn Bourchin whom he left there But while King Henry was thus carefull to please all men and to preserve peace a Rebellion is raised in the north by Francis Lord Lovel Humfrey Stafford and Thomas his Brother but the King with great celerity marches against them and their Leaders hearts failing them they steal from their Army by night Lovell was shrouded by Sir Thomas Broughton and the two Staffords took Sanctuary but because no Sanctuary could protect malefactors in case of high Treason they were pulled out by violence and arraigned condemned and Humphrey the elder brother executed but the other was pardoned by the Kings favour it being supposed he did it not out of malice but was drawn in by his unpeaceable brother But this flame being quenched a greater is kindled For a certain Priest named Symond erected a mock Prince called Lambert who joyning with the Dutchesse of Burgoyne and the Irish invaded England but was routed and being taken Lambert was put into the Kings Scullery who not long after was made chief Faulconer to the King Then was the Kings wife with all honour and princely solemnity crowned Queen and Thomas Bourchier Arch-Bishop of Canterbury dying he is succeeded by Iohn Morton Bishop of Ely who was also made Lord Chancelour of this Kingdome and not long after he was dignified with the Hat and Habit of a Cardinall by Pope Alexander the sixth A difference falls between the French and the Britains the King having been beholding to both mediates a peace but in vain they fall to Arms and the King aids the Duke of Britain with eight thousand men for maintenance whereof a Parliament gives the King the tenth penny of all moveable goods and chattels but the Duke dyed and those wars ended But this Tax begot a Rebellion for the rustick swads about York and Durham would not pay a penny of the Tax but being numerous they rifled severall places where they came and barbarously murdered the Earl of Northumberland imployed by the King to levy the tax but the King soon routed them and executed the Ringleaders of them in severall places The French King by his gifts corrupts the attendants of the Duke of Britains Daughter heir of the Dukedome and though affianced to the Emperors Daughter before yet he returns her to her father and marries the Young Heir of Britain wâ—o was contracted to the Emperour making both contracts void and nullities by proclamation But the Emperor scorning to be thus disgraced sends to King Henry and craves aid whereupon the King partly for love he bare to the Emperour and partly because he saw the French King was become Lord of Britain and endeavoured to subject the low Countries also under him promised his assistance for support of which he spared the poor and got great sums from the Nobles and richer sort The King sends a well appointed Army over under the conduct and command of the Duke of Bedford and the Earl of Oxford whom the King in person followed with a Royall Army but the French King sues for peace and gave him for his charges in that expedition almost two hundred thousand pounds Sterling so Henry and his Army returned safe into England having concluded an honourable and profitable Peace But the Kings ancient enemy the Dutchesse of Burgoyne with another upstart counterfeit named Perkin Warbeck whom she pretends to be Richard Duke of York Edward the Fourth's Second son The Burgoyns Irish French and Scots favour him some out of mischief others out of mistake which begets great troubles to King Henry but he is taken imprison'd and for endeavouring an escape is executed The Scots invade England under pretence of aiding Perkin he drives them out and another Tax is levied which begets a rebellion which the King overthrows and hangs up the Heads of it Prince Arthur about this time married Katharine Daughter to Ferdinand King of Aragon King Henry's eldest Daughter marries the King of Scots Iames the Fourth but Prince Arthur five months after his Marriage died to his Fathers great grief about his latter end he grew covetous but repented of it He died soon after and was buried at Westminster in his own Chappel he died at 52. years old and reigned 23. years The most Mighty and Prudent Prince Henry the seaventh by the grace of god King of England Fraunce and Ireland As after a sharp Winter Birds do sing Encomiums to a Comfortable Spring So did this Kingdome entertain with joy Great Lancaster and sung Vive le Roy. Henry from Britain came and claim'd his due By Vertue Valour and by Title true And that he might becalme all stormy weather He joyn'd the White Rose and the Red together He was a prudent Prince and govern'd well But that to be too Covetous he fell At last he much restor'd and gave among The poor which mercy cancel'd all his wrong HENRY the Eighth King of England KIng Henry the Eighth being of the age of eighteen years began to Reigne the two and twentieth day of April in the year of our Lord God 1509. And being dispensed with by the Pope he married the Lady Katharine Daughter to Ferdinando King of Aragon Aunt to Prince Charls of Castile who afterwards was Emperour whenas not long before she had been his brother Prince Arthur's Wife by which match much trouble afterwards ensued In the beginning of his Reigne he was very gracious and tender to his people in rescuing them from the greedy Jaws of their oppressors that toward the end of his Fathers Reigne had so vexed and tormented them and the more freely to content such as had been justly offended by those extreamities he caused the Heads of those two devouring Caterpillars Empson and Dudley to be stricken off at the Tower Hill and the rest of that rascall rabble were disgracefully corrected by the Stocks and Pillories in sundry places of this Realme Thus when the King had well buâ—ied himself in the settlement of his Kingdome for the first two years of his Reigne he was by his wifes father Ferdinando King of Aragon entreated to assist him against the Moores but by reason of a cessation of those Jarres returned out of Spain having been rudely entertained and spent all About the same time the King of France invades Italy making great havock but Henry in favour of the Pope led an Army into France Maximilian the Emperour fighting under the English Banner and took many prisoners and Towns In the mean time the Scots upon the French account infest the North parts of England with sixty thousand men but the Earl of Surrey encountered them with six and twenty thousand and
a man he was of an approved judgement and understanding in State affairs and of a singular fidelity to his King and Countrey William Laud also Archbishop of Canterbury and Primate of all England followed him a man admirably learned But now they touched the Kings bowells for they accuse the Queens Majesty as one that had caused the troubles in Ireland and caused that people of themselves inconstant enough to rebell the King hereupon accused five of the lower house and one of the upper House their names the Lord Viscount Mandevile Pim Hamden Hasilrig Hollis and Stroud cleerly detecting these men of these tumults and dissensions but the Parliament would never suffer them to come to tryal but hid them in the City The Parliament having brought the business to this resolve not to give it over but Ianuary 16. 1642. raised a vast multitude of Citizens and others to the number of 20000. and more under colour to defend the Laws and Liberties The King hasts to Hampton Court commanding his Councellors to follow him especially Essex and Holland who both refuse wherefore the King with a small company took his journey like one that sled so that for hast being he had no Purveyers to provide room for him sufficiently he his wife and children the first night were constrained to tumble all in one Bed The King with some of his friends takes journey to York and is honourably received by the Gentry who proffer their best assistance the Parliament takes advantage of his absence and load him and his Queen with black and scandalous calumnies to render him odious to the City and having his Militia out of his hands together with the disposing of all places of trust they raise a great masse of money upon publick faith and I know not what State cheats they fortifie all places of strength they next send to the King humble Petitions containing most unreasonable demands calling them Priviledges of Parliament giving the King plainly to understand if he will not grant what they desire they will have it by force and forthwith raise a formidable Army under the command of the Earl of Essex the King is denyed entrance into his Town of Hull by the two Hothams father and son both which afterward their fellow Rebels beheaded on one and the same day spightfully executing the son first least he should have the honour to dye a Knight The King seeing his lenity hath been but their opportunity and that they were now in the field ready to surprize him sets up his Standard at Nottingham levies what forces he could and betakes himself to the field having fortified Oxford his chief Garrison many Battels are fought with various success till that fatal Battel at Naseby in which the Kings forces were totally routed and his very cabinet of private Letters between himself and his wife taken and most barbarously printed and divulged to his Majesties honour and the infamy of the divulgers For that the King in a disguize yields up his Person to the Scots who trayâ—erously sold him to the English for 200000 l. And the Rump having now what they desired murder him at his own Gate Ian. 30. 1648. He lyes buried by Henry the Eight at Windfor The high and Mighty Monarch CHARLES by the grace of GOD King of Great Brittaine France and Ireland Defender of the Fayth etc. Are to be sould by Thomas Ionneâ— aty e Royall Exchaunge Thus Ah thus our dread Soveraign Charls the first The best of men was murder'd by the worst At his own Gate by his own Subjects too What more could barbarous Moors and Scythians do False Scots betray'd sold him Scots that would Betray again our Saviour Christ for gold Thus fell our Laws and Liberties Assertor The Churches Champion and the Peoples Martyr To prove him wise just learned only look Into his most incomparable Book Which shall his name from age to age present When Brasse and Marble need a Monument CHARLS IId. King of Great Britain France Ireland CHARLS the second By the Grace of God of England Scotland France Ireland King was born the 29. of May 1630. Never knew May a more hopefull flower than this that happily sprung from the Roses of York and Lancaster joyned to the Lillyes of France a flower to whose composure nature it seems summoned her divided glories as Zeuxis did his divided beauties to make up one Venus Well was this May thought then most happy untill now we have lived to see another May as much more happy as it is to be brought to a Kingdome than to be brought to the world or to be Crowned than to be Cradled His Royall Nativity was attended by a Starre discovered over St. Iames's at mid-day displaying its modest beams in spight of Sun-shine in the middle of the aire an Emblem of his future glory it seems when Vulgar births are passed by every day unobserved the whole frame of nature takes notice of Soveraign births and Complements them with Stars Meteors Thunders Earth-quakes such honour have Gods anointed when he made his own Son King over his holy Hill of Zion a starre came and waited upon him from the East For his Education His Father of blessed memory pitcht upon the Reverend Doctor Duppa Dean of Christ-Church in Ozon Lord Bishop of Chichester and afterward of Salisbury who went to him as his other Genius O â—ow the reverend Father insinuated himself with his sacred Theorems into his Princely soul in short he arrived at that proficiency was his own honour and the worlds admiration as forraign Tongues as Italian French Spanish Dutch c. Adversity hath been his School-master witnesse all Embassadors whom he Elegantly answers in their own Languages This every way accomplisht Prince whom this degenerous Land was unworthy of was expulsed his Kingdomes by Traytors whose names are blacker than my Ink accursed Assassines that murdered the Father than whom a better King England was never happy under and would have sent the thrice Noble Son the same way but that God preserved him miraculously to be the joy and honour of these long bleeding Kingdomes once again At last after many forreign troubles the Scots invite the King upon tearms almost as hard as Exile which yet the King receives and is Crowned in Scotland but tyred out with their Factions he makes for England with his friends and Lashly who at Worcester betrayes him where his Majesty in his own person performing wonders yet lost the day and escaped leaving all things behind him a prey to the enemies who fell upon the Royal plunder so hastily as if they thought to find Saul the King among the stuff but blessed be that losse that saved our Soveraigne But the King escapes their villany and violence and purposely loosing his company goes to White-Ladyes near Boscobil where cutting off his hair disguising his face with Wallnuts and his body with rustick Robes under the conduct of the Penderells he passed the dayes in obscure Coppices and
Henry look back and in his Tragick Scene There thou shalt see what all thy troubles mean Nor did it though thou thoughtst it faster stood Cemented to thy Temples with his Bloud You that your Lives your Souls what dearest is Venture for Thrones do but consider this Princes descend unto the shades beneath And pyle their Crowns up at the Gates of Death HENRY the Fifth King of England THe King was inaugurated with wonderfull applause and desire of the Lords and Commons and he not willing to disappoint his subjects of the hope they conceived of him gave them a signe of his excellent Government sending from him those Ministers of lascivious youth his former associates And not willing his valiant heart should give place to sloath claims his right in France First he sent Heraulds and demanded his Kingdome from King Charls promising to marry the Lady Katherine his Daughter and threatened also that if he denied he would take his patrimony by force Charâ— laughed at his Embassadors whereby he so enraged King Henry that he musters a mighâ—y Army with about 120. Ships he sailed into France First he takes Harefleet and after many skirmiges with the French fought that memorable battel at Agencourt to the eternall honour of the English which done he and all his Army on their knees gave praise to God for their glorious Victory About this time Sigismund the Emperor came into England to Treat of Peace between the French and English nor was Henry slow in the business but when the French besieged Harefleet he was so angry that he sent the Duke of Bedford to raise the siedge with the Earl of Marsh Oxford and others and 200 ships and fought a bloudy fight in the Haven of Harefleet with Burbon the French Admirall where the English wan the day sinking 500 of the French ships and so relieved the Town But the Emperour perceiving the perfidiousnesse of the French made a firm League with the English against all opposers and so returned back into Germany The French in the mean time hired great ships of Genoa and again besiedging the Haven of Harefleet endeavoured to hinder all provision from coming to the Town but the Earl of Huntington suddenly vanquished them He took the Duke of Burbone a bastard and so returned Conquerour for England Then the King with his Nobility sailed into Normandy and took the Fort Tueha whilst the Earl of Salisbury wan Abervile which place the King freely gave to him and his Heirs Afterwards he wan Caen and for their obstinacy punished some of the principall with death and gave the plunder of the City to his Souldiers Then he sent the Duke of Clarence to beleager the Town of Bayon which he quickly wan thence he removed to Corfen and in three dayes became Master thereof then he subdued Argentaniam after that Aleucon Falesia and returned victor to Caen. In the mean while the Earl of Warwick conquered the Castle of Dumfrise and Clarentius mastered Curton and many other Towns Then the King layes siege to Roan and forced the Citizens to submit which Town being the Chief was an example for the rest to follow so that shortly he wan all Normandy lost by the carelessnesse of his Predecessors The Duke of Burgundy perceiving all things to succeed to K. Henery's mind procured a meeting between him and the Queen of France for King Charls her husband doted yet there was nothing done The Queen brought with her her most beautifull daughter Katharine purposely to ensnare the Kings mind with her allurements nor was it in vaine for the King no sooner saw her but he was wonderfully taken with her elegant beauty and when they departed doing nothing the King charged the Duke of Burgundy to do his best to satisfie his desires for unlesse all he demanded together with the Lady Kathariâ—e were granted him he would by force take from the Duke his Dukedome and from the King his Kingdome The French were so frighted with these threats that they fell to a new Parlie but now the Dolphin caused the Duke of Burgundy to be basely slain presently after though he begged his life on his knees and so the slaughter of the Duke of Orleance committed before by Burgundy was expiated Nor is peace yet concluded till the French were constrained by another losse to seek it seriously A meeting is appointed at Trecas and there was Katharine betrothed to Henry and the right of succession confirmed to him aâ—ter the decease of Charls whereupon all the Nobillity of France swear to be loyall to him and so the salique Law is broken The Dolphin also is cited to appear before the Marble Table in Paris and not coming is banisht Henry also caused money to be coyned with the Arms of France and England which he called the Soveraigne Then leaving the Duke of Clarence Governour of France and Normandy he returned for England with his Queen whom in February following he crowned at Westminstor with great solemnity and much honour But the Duke of Clarence making an Expedition against Anjou and taking great spoils as he came back laden with prey was betrayed by one Andrew Forgusa a treacherous Lombard and although he fought valiantly yet was he slaine by the Duke of Alenson with the chief Nobillity and 2000 English men the Earl of Somerset Suffolk and other Lords are taken Prisoners The King to revenge his brothers death lands in France with a mighty Army and freed Chartres from a siedge of the Dolphin whom he pursues from place to place but cannot overtake him though he take all Towns in his way So that in a short time he joyned all the Island of France to the rest In the mean time the Queen is delivered of a Son at Windsor named Henry of whose birth the King said to the Lord Fitz Hugh his Chamberlain I Henry born at Monmouth shall remaine but a short time and gain much but Henry born at Windsor shall Reign long and lose all About this time the Dolphin besiedges those of Narbon Henry goes to their relief but in his overmuch hast takes a feavor of which he dies having dispatched the Duke of Bedford who not only frees Narbon but drives the Dolphin into Aquitane who in mockery was called King of Aquitane While he lay sick he made his Brother the Duke of Bedford Regent of Normandy and France and his Brother the Duke of Gloucester he made Governour of England He died at 36 years old reigned 9 years 5 months and 24 dayes HENRY the v. began his reigne the 20 of March and was crowned at Westminster the 9 of Aprill following 1413. He reigned gloriously 9 yeres 5 monthes he died in the Castle of Boys Vincent by Paris the 1. of September 1422. and lieth intombed in the Abbey of St Peters at Westminster being of the age of 36 yeares when he departed this world R. E. sculp His Royall head no sooner Henry Crowns But his debaucht associates he disowns He showes them now
whom of right the Crown belonged as he was descended of Iohn of Gaunt Duke of Lancaster with these joyned the Duke of Britain with whom Henry then resided Richard in the mean time who had notice of the consultations of Buckingham sent for him again and again to come to him but when he flatly refuses to come to him they fall to their Arms on both sides The Duke presently mustering some Welch Forces came to Gloucester to meet Richard that had a mightier Army with him but the Soldiers he had procured voluntarily rather then for pay all forsook him before he came in sight of the enemy and having none left with him but his Lacky who was forced to flie to shift for himself he went to his servant Humfrey Banisters house who unmindfull of all former favours delivered him afterward to Richard who cut off his head and all the Conspirators presently ran One one way Another another way some to places of refuge and some into Britanny to the Earl Richard in the mean time heard that the Duke did not only not hurt the Earl but had resolved to assist him wherefore he provides a great Fleet to intercept the Earles Landing here Henry in the mean time with forty Ships and five thousand Britains Sails for England but a Tempest arose and scattered his Ships and he almost quit of all his Forces was driven on Cornwall where coming ashore and seeing a great Army he was forced to retire to his Ships and being very pensive when he heard of Buckinghams death void of all Counsell he return'd again to Britanny in France but by the coming of the Nobillity he took heart once more and promised before the Altar to marry Elizabeth King Edwards Daughter if the businesse succeeded according to his mind and so a fresh Oath of fidelity was taken by them all In the mean time Richard did fiercely rage against all such as followed the Earl wheresoever he could lay hold on them Thomas Earl of Dorset who fled to him he banished both by Sea and Land also he made a Covenant with the Scotch King giving his Sister Anne in marriage to his Son Richard layes new Traps for Henry by corrupting the Dukes Treasures with money but he escapes them the matter being detected by Bishop Morton When the fraud was made known to the Duke he was so enraged against the Treasurer that he caused him for that other wicked deeds to be hanged But Richard to hinder Henry's Marriage with Elizabeth partly by flattery partly by fear and partly by promises he prevailed so farre with the Queen that she should entrust her daughters with him and should write her Letters to her son the Marquess of Dorset that was near the Earl that without delay he should return home and leave the society of the Earl Henry that all things were now pacified and their family in favour with the King Richard all this while having gotten the Queens Daughters that he might totally destroy the design of Marriage with Henry resolved himself to marry her his own Brothers Daughter his own Wife being yet alive whom to that end he privately packed away by poyson In the mean while he tryes all wayes he can to make Elizabeth affect him he was also resolved to joyne violence to his prayers if he could not otherwise obâ—aine her but he was so much urged with care and forraigne fear that he had no time for Courtship In the inâ—erim Stanley had a Command to Muster an Army but he must not goe forth before he had given to Henry his Son the Lord Strange for a pledge of his fidelity A fame was also spread abroad on purpose that Henry had implored help of the French in vain and that there was no fear of his coming which made Richard deal somwhat carelesly and unwarily discharging the Navy he had to Scour the English Coasts Henry was advertised how things stood and arrived in England with but two thousanâ— Soldiers in pay presently Rice Thomas and Iohn Savage two of the most Potent men iâ— Wales having collected some forces came to joyne with Henry Pembrook with some other did the like Stanley though he wished well yet for his sons sake delayed his intention tilâ— fit opportunity presented it self Richard all this time was wonderfull sluggish but when he heard how his subjects revolted to Henry he raised what men he could scrape up and went against him he Pitched his Tent in Bosworth field and both sides make ready at last they fall on but Stanley who came late and brought fresh forces joyned with Henry whereby he was not a little animated The King himself after wonderfull tokens of his valour is slain hand to hand by the Earl to whom by Gods blessing that day and Crown fell Richards body all naked and miery is found among the dead and trussed up like a Calf behind a Pursevant is buried at Leicester with as much honour as his Nephews in the Tower under the Stairs The portraict of RICHARD the 3. King of England and Fraunce Lord of Ireland He was slaine at Bosworth feild the 22th of August 1486. and homelye bured at the Graye friers Church in Leicester when he had vsurped 2 yeares 2 monthes and one day Monster of men Thou son of Belial Shall not thy Nephews bloud for vengeance call Shall it think'st thou with them in silence dye No â—hough their mouths be stopt their blood shal cry For which when God shall inquisition make Rocks cannot hide thee nor the Stigean Lake Thou that didst publish all the World before Thy Brother Bastard and thy Mother Whore Thy barbarous hand did take away the Life Of two great Kings and thine own dearest Wife Two Princes thou and many Peers didst murther Had Hel broke loose it could have gone scarce further HENRY the Seventh King of England HENRY both by right and true valour came to the Kingdome and was crowned at Westminster Anno 1486. the day before the Calends of November Then caling a Parliament he is discharged of the Treason that Richard laid to him and he gave honors and rewards to some that were grieved Then according to his Oath and Promise he married the fair and vertuous Lady Elizabeth eldest daughter to King Edward the Fourth thereby joyning in one the two great Families of Lancaster and York betwixt whom for principallity and the Crown infinite contentions and mortall wars had formerly consumed and destroyed many thousands of noble brave and valiant men Now that the State of the Kingdome might be confirmed in its happinesse by the safety of the Kings person and by other requisites King Henry taking example by the Kings of France selected a certain number of warlike men in all places to attend him whom he tearmed the Yeomen of his Crown He elected the most Noble Grave and wise men of this Kingdome to be of his privy Counsell by whose sage directions and advice the Government of this Kingdome was settled in peace